Tafsir of Ar-Ra'd 13:20-24

This is the subject (mubtada’), and {Those—for them is the ultimate home} is its predicate, similar to His saying: “And those who break the covenant of Allah... those—for them is the curse.” It is also possible that it is an adjective for “those of understanding,” but the first is more sound.

The covenant of Allah: That which they bound upon themselves regarding the testimony of His Lordship: {And He made them testify of themselves, "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes"} (Al-A'raf: 172).

{And they do not break the pledge} They do not break everything they have bound upon themselves and accepted: from faith in Allah to other covenants between them and Allah, and between them and His servants. This is a generalization following a specification.

{What Allah has commanded to be joined} This refers to ties of kinship and blood relations. Included in this is maintaining the kinship of the Messenger of Allah and the kinship of the believers, which is established by virtue of faith: {The believers are but brothers} (Al-Hujurat: 10). This is done by showing them kindness according to one's capacity, supporting them, defending them, having compassion for them, advising them, removing division between oneself and them, spreading peace among them, visiting their sick, and attending their funerals.

Included in this is observing the rights of companions, servants, neighbors, and travel companions, and everything that has a connection to them—even a cat or a chicken. It is narrated from Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad that a group visited him in Mecca and he asked, "Where are you from?" They said, "From the people of Khurasan." He said, "Fear Allah and be [righteous] wherever you wish. Know that if a servant were to perform every act of goodness, yet possessed a chicken and treated it poorly, he would not be among the doers of good."

{And they fear their Lord} Meaning, they fear all of His warnings.

{And they fear the evil of the account} Specifically, they hold themselves to account before they are held to account.

{They are patient} This is absolute regarding whatever one must be patient with: calamities affecting the soul or wealth, and the hardships of religious obligations.

{Seeking the countenance of Allah} Not so that it may be said, "How patient and enduring he is in the face of disasters, and how dignified he is during upheavals," nor to avoid being blamed for impatience, nor to prevent enemies from gloating, as in the verse: “And I show endurance to those who gloat, showing them [strength]...” Nor because there is no benefit in panic or because it does not restore what is lost, as in the verse: “I have not panicked nor been anxious; my weeping does not restore a spark [to the fire].”

Every deed has intentions upon which it is based. The believer must intend by it that which makes it good in the sight of Allah; otherwise, he deserves no reward, and it is as if the deed were never done.

{From what We have provided them} From the lawful (halal), because the unlawful is not a provision, nor can it be attributed to Allah.

{Secretly and publicly} This includes voluntary acts, for they are better in secret, and obligatory acts, for they must be performed openly to negate suspicion.

{And they repel evil with good} They push it away. Ibn Abbas said: They repel the evil speech directed at them from others with good speech. Al-Hasan said: If they are deprived, they give; if they are wronged, they forgive; if they are cut off, they maintain ties. Ibn Kaysan said: If they sin, they repent. It is also said: If they see a wrong, they command its change.

{The ultimate home} The consequence of the world, which is Paradise, because it is what Allah intended to be the consequence of the world and the return of its people.

{Gardens of Eden} This is a substitute (badal) for "the ultimate home."

{They will enter them} It is read in the passive voice.

{And whoever was righteous} Know that lineages are of no benefit if they are stripped of righteous deeds.

{And their fathers} This is the plural of the parents of each one of them; it is as if it were said: "from their fathers and mothers."

{Peace be upon you} This is in the position of a state (hal), for the meaning is: "saying, 'Peace be upon you'" or "being those who offer peace."

If you ask: To what does His saying {For what you patiently endured} relate? I say: To an omitted element, the estimation of which is: "This is for what you patiently endured." They mean: This reward is because of your patience, or in exchange for the hardships and troubles of patience you bore, [you receive] these delights and blessings. The meaning is: If you grew weary in the world, you have found rest now, as in the verse: “Because of what I see in it, [I find] comfort and ease.”

It is narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he would visit the graves of the martyrs at the beginning of every year and say: "Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured, and excellent is the ultimate home." It is also possible that it relates to "Peace," meaning: We greet you and honor you because of your patience.

{And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption on the earth—those will have the curse, and they will have the worst home.}